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“Spring”
Public Domain

Maria Antoinette Dorsey, Moravian Seminary for Young Ladies, Lititz, and others

“Spring”

1825-1830

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Physical Qualities Silk ground, silk embroidery threads, watercolor, linen lining, 16 x 12-1/2 in. (40.7 x 31.8 cm.
Credit Line Gift of Mrs. John W. Nicol, Jr., Baltimore
Object Number 1976.100
James Thomson’s epic poem The Seasons (1730) gained great popularity with European and American audiences, resulting in many engraved illustrations. Some of these served as inspiration for embroideries, especially at schools in Lititz and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Although Maria Antoinette Dorsey lived in Maryland, she may have attended school out of state. Her silk-on-silk picture Spring is adapted from Laurie and Whittle’s 1794 mezzotint of the same name, although the male figure in the print has been eliminated in the embroidery. The artist who drew the pattern for the needlework and delicately painted the faces, hair, hands, and other details is unknown, but the quality suggests a professional. No less impressive is the excellent stitching, which indicates that Maria was a superb needlewoman.
Baltimore Museum of Art by gift, 1976; Pamela L Nicol (Mrs. John W. Nicol, Jr.) Baltimore, MD by descent; Maria Antoinette Dorsey (1815-1890).
Anita Jones, The Baltimore Museum of Art, "Lessons Learned: American Schoolgirl Embroideries," November 23, 2014-May 10, 2015.

Inscribed: None.

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